Frenchman 'too big to fly on plane' stranded in US

[The Straight Story]

Frenchman 'too big to fly on plane' stranded in US

A French family has been left stranded in Chicago after British Airways forbade their son, who had been receiving treatment for a hormone disorder, from flying back to France, saying he was too big to fit on the plane.

Kevin Chenais, 22, spent a year and a half at the Mayo Clinic for treatment of a hormone disorder which led him to weigh 227 kilos (500 pounds).

His mother was near tears as she described the family's problems to the local CBS affiliate.

"We blame British Airways because now they just leave us, and they brought us here," Christina Chenais told the station.

"If they could bring him here with that problem in economy, there was a way to take him back by economy but just get him back home for his medical treatments to continue."

http://www.thelocal.fr/20131107/frenchman-too-big-to-fly-on-plane-stranded-in-us-chicago-british-airways

[MADem]

1. Was it the fat, or the oxygen issue?

I don't see why he couldn't just take 2 seats in the front row, with an extender for the seat belt?

Did he gain MORE weight as a consequence of the disorder?

I hope he got a discount last minute fare on the Queen Mary....that's not cheap, even in the bowels of the vessel.

[idwiyo]

2. I hope they will sue the shit out of BA for this bullshit.

[fadedrose]

3. Why can't they ask the govt to let him accompany some diplomat

back to France...this is cruel...

[dballance]

4. Commercial airlines are not ambulance services.

The article says he needs oxygen and constant medical care. That is not within the normal services a commercial airline provides. They must weigh the safety of him and the other passengers.

I used to work in specialty health care services. We provided insurance for divers who might get the bends and need to be emergency flown to a chamber for decompression. We also provided air ambulance services for patients like the gentleman in question.

You would probably scream that rather than take a city bus to his doctor he should take an ambulance with care professionals or, at least, a cab to accommodate his oxygen equipment, medical needs and the possibility of an emergency.

This is no different.

[davidpdx]

6. They can allow you to fly with oxygen

But it requires a doctor's approval and you have to notify the airline ahead of time. It is also very expensive.

I had pneumonia two years ago when I was in the US and ended up hospitalized. I was visiting there and live in South Korea. I went through all the paperwork in case I needed oxygen, but never went through with it as I didn't need it.

That being said if he has medical issues he shouldn't have flown in the first place. In my case I was mildly sick when I flew to the US and got progressively worse after I arrived.

[msongs]

5. maybe they could contact....air france or the french government, oui? nt